by Lynn Cox

A thief who stole a £6,000 watch from a jewellers in Rochester was featured on Crimewatch last night.

The crime appeal programme, which is on BBC1, featured footage of a man going into the Kaizen Antiques in Rochester High Street and then making off with the ladies gold Omega Seamaster watch.

The footage also showed the owners of the shop giving chase after the thief ran out of the shop.

The man, pictured here, asked to see a ladies gold Omega Seamaster displayed in the shop window and asked shop staff a lot of questions before agreeing to buy it.

Seconds later he made a dash for the door with the expensive watch still in his hand.

The incident happened between 1.35pm and 1.38pm on Saturday, March 2.

Before making off with the watch, the thief asked staff questions relating to the watch and asked it came with a box and a warranty.

He even asked the jeweller what best price he could sell the watch for and as he was handed it he runs out of the shop.

Despite members of staff giving chase, the thief, who ran down the High Street, in the direction of Northgate, and then across Corporation Street, got away.

Co-owners Jason Hunt and Julia Brooks and colleague Joe Olivares all ran after the offender.

They followed him to Gas House Road before losing sight of him.

Police in Medway issued a CCTV still of the man shortly after the incident, but have yet to arrest someone for the crime.

At the time, Mr Hunt said: “He just ran out into the traffic without looking. There was no way we could follow him across the busy road.”

He added: “There was nothing suspicious about him when he came in. He asked all the right questions – he seemed to know what he was doing.”

If you know who the man is call police on 01634 792421 or Crimestoppers on 800 555111.